Names in the news, April 16

Members of Guns N’ Roses reunited for three songs as the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on Saturday night before 6,000 fans, many of whom were thrilled to see at least most of the band’s original lineup jam on classic hits like “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Paradise City.” Axl Rose, the band’s frontman, declined to attend the induction, saying he didn’t want to be part of the ceremony because it “doesn’t appear to be somewhere I’m actually wanted or respected.” Guns N’ Roses were one of the headliners of this year’s eclectic group of inductees, which included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beastie Boys, folk icon Donovan, late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro, and British bands the Small Faces and Faces. The event lasted well into the early morning with an All-Star jam featuring some of rock’s biggest names closing the ceremony with a stirring rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” … The U.S. Postal Service joined with fans of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in Monroeville on Friday for a stamp and envelope celebrating the 50th anniversary of the film from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee. About 100 people attended the unveiling in Monroeville, Ala., to buy the envelopes and stamps, which were processed by the Postal Service to be collectors’ items. The artist Nicolosi, who designed the pictorial cancellation and the envelope, was on hand to sign his work at the Monroe County Heritage Museum in the old county courthouse. The cancellation includes the top of the courthouse and a portion of a tree with a mockingbird on a tree limb. The envelope also includes the courthouse and says “Lower Alabama. The ‘other’ L.A.” The envelopes carry the Gregory Peck stamp issued a year ago to recognize the actor who played attorney Atticus Finch in the film.